Five Iron Frenzy: Overwhelmed by fan support for new CD/tour

Five Iron Frenzy announced it is recording a new CD, which will be released in 2013. It also released a new song: "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night."

After an eight year hiatus – including a Grand Rapids farewell tour stop in 2003 -- the post-ska/ska-core band Five Iron Frenzy is coming back out of the golf bag.

The faith-based band with a prominent horn section announced a "kickstarter" fund raising project for a new CD Tuesday, and within 12 hours raised more than $70,000 (far past the original goal of $30,000) toward production, promotion and initial touring costs.

As of 2:45 p.m. ET today, the band had raised more than $81,000.

"If the past is any indication of the future, we may all be in for a very wild ride," posted trombonist Dennis Culp on the band's kickstarter project page.

The response showed them "trending" on several social media sites and indicates a thriving fan base hanging on to memories and the music.

The band's final CD was "The End Is Near" and its final local tour stop in Oct. 2003 at The Ground Floor in Grandville.

Their sound, fronted by singer Reese Roper, was always flavored with punk and pop. Over their last several albums, they ventured into more of a "rock with horns" feel.

Five Iron Frenzy has released a new song, "It Was A Dark and Stormy Night," that picks up right were they left off.

During its earlier heyday the eight-member band opened several shows local shows for Relient K, and once performed at the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven.

"Look what our friends in Five Iron Frenzy are up to….." tweeted Relient K Wednesday about the forthcoming CD, which may not be fully released until 2013.

Five Iron Frenzy was known for its satirical song and album titles, such as "Cheeses of Nazereth" and "Our Newest Album Ever." Their first song to really catch on with listeners was "The Flowery Song" from its 1996 national debut album.

On one tour each band member came on stage with a sock puppet. On another, they wore Star Trek uniforms spouting familiar lines from the science fiction franchise.

Despite their lack of any Christian radio hit power and never winning a gospel music Dove Award, the band's zany inspiration hooked many fans who have long-awaited a rumored announcement about their future.

Bands who don't have a record label, or who simply want to do an indie project, have gone the fundraising route to get their CD off the ground. Often local bands take that approach, with a mixed success rate.

Five Iron Frenzy did some clever groundwork before this week's announcement (see the Tuned Up blog) that no doubt helped their success.

Not every band should come back after an extended absence.

When they ended their run in 2003, Five Iron Frenzy agreed to retire the name even though several of the members went on to other musical pursuits.

But apparently conditions are ripe for the original members to regroup for another shot. Let's hope Grand Rapids makes the list of cities on an eventually reunion tour and watch some "frenzy" happen.